Sierra Leone students excel at UNESCO-India-Africa Hackathon 2022

0
248

Students representing Sierra Leonean universities at the UNESCO-India-Africa Hackathon 2022 have excelled at the just concluded 36-hour non-stop Hackathon in Delhi, India held from 22nd -25th November. Three of the themes in which Sierra Leone students participated relating to developing healthcare and agriculture technology application solutions received prizes for innovation.

The awards were presented by the Vice President of India Hon. Shri Jagdeep Dhankar and UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Priority Africa and External Relations, at the Guatam Budha University Auditorium in New Delhi.

The Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) Hon. Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara led the delegation comprising  13 student innovators (four females), MTHE Director of Technology and Innovation and senior lecturer/researcher from University of Sierra Leone.

The students joined young innovators from 22 countries to find technology based solutions to issues relating to education, agriculture, health, energy, water, and other socio-economic challenges.

The hackathon is an annual 36-hour event that brings together students, educators, teachers and the research community of India and its African partners to tackle common challenges faced by their countries and serves as a facilitator for cultural amalgamation. Twenty-two countries participated in this year’s Hackathon including Ministers of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation.

The students will return to Sierra Leone on 28th November and a special session will be at the India High Commission in Freetown to reflect on their experiences at the Hackathon.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here